Charming Colton Read online

  I swallow as my gaze roams down to her small cotton shorts and then smile. They suit her. Her little anyway. I wonder what else her wardrobe consists of. I only got a glimpse inside her closet earlier. I’d like to see more.

  I stroke her hip with my fingers and she snuggles closer.

  Yeah. I’m in trouble with a capital T.

  When my gaze wanders back to her amazing tit and that hard little nub, I force myself to stop staring at her. I jerk my gaze to the ceiling and take deep breaths. I need to find the asshole who’s trafficking women and fast. The longer I’m guarding Eve, the harder it’s going to be to extricate myself from her life.

  Already it feels too late, and that’s not acceptable. I wasn’t kidding when I told her why I don’t have relationships. It’s not fair to date anyone seriously since I never know when I might get called away at a moment’s notice. Hell, sometimes it’s even more complicated than that. Sometimes I end up in women’s beds during a case. I would never be able to do that if I were in a relationship.

  I groan inside. There’s no reason to ponder this. It’s not going to happen. Eve made it clear she isn’t looking for someone either. She likes her life compartmentalized like it is. I can see why. It would be very difficult for her to combine the parts. Perhaps impossible.

  I suspect she likes to spend time at home in her little space, and I’m cramping her style. If she doesn’t have sex with the Daddies who discipline her but she does like to have sex with other men… Good grief. What a mess.

  It takes me forever to fall asleep, and I’m once again stunned to awaken in the same manner as yesterday. Eve is sitting next to me, coffee in hand. Dressed to kill at the office. Her adult is fully in place. Makeup. Hair in a bun. Jewelry. Navy blouse today. Black skirt. I bet I’ll choke when I see her heels.

  I push to sitting and accept the coffee. “Thank you. I have no idea how I keep sleeping so late. It’s embarrassing.”

  She smiles. “I bet you lie awake half the night before dozing off. It’s no wonder.”

  I flinch. “Do I keep you awake?”

  She shakes her head. “Not at all. I was out like a light last night. The night before too after you joined me. I never noticed anything. I’m just speculating that a man with a job like yours probably has trouble sleeping.”

  I take another sip of coffee. “You’re right.” I glance at her clock. “How much time do I have?”

  “Thirty minutes. You’re good.” She pats my chest. “I won’t let you oversleep.” Her smile… Just damn.

  I watch as she stands and walks toward the door. “You could move your toiletries into my bathroom. If you want, I mean. Whatever.”

  My gaze is on her legs as she leaves. Those heels. Fuck. Me.

  I close my eyes and inhale slowly before shoving off her bed and heading to the master bath. Fifteen minutes later, I’m ready to go and find her in the kitchen. She hands me a second cup of coffee. “Bagel or toast or something?”

  “Thank you.” I reach for the bagels and pop one in the toaster. “I don’t want you to feel like you have to…” I don’t know how to finish that sentence.

  She chuckles. “No worries. You’re here for the time being. You have to eat. Help yourself to whatever.” She lifts a brow. “However…”

  I hesitate and meet her gaze. “Yeah?”

  “Now that you know me better, don’t be surprised at what you might find in my kitchen or anywhere else in my apartment. Like I said, I don’t bring men here. Not ever. This is my getaway. My safe space. If a stranger came in and rummaged through my things, they would think I have a small child living here.” She smiles. She’s far less uncomfortable today. I’m glad.

  I shouldn’t keep touching her, but I do. I cup her face. My voice comes out gravelly. “No worries. I won’t judge you. This is your home. Please, be yourself. Pretend I’m not here if you need to.”

  She chuckles, not sounding amused. “Like that’s possible.”

  I drop my hand to grab the bagel and slather it with cream cheese. “Do you think I could drive you to work and pick you up? We could be discreet about it.”

  She giggles, a sound that goes straight to my cock. “Because you don’t trust me to stay where you leave me?”

  I flinch and turn toward her. “That’s not it at all. And you’re not a prisoner. You can go anywhere you want. I’m just asking you to let me know so that I don’t have to worry. I can’t keep you safe if you go places without my knowledge.”

  Her eyes are dancing with mirth. “And you think you don’t have a Daddy inside you?”

  My eyes go wide, and I nearly choke on my bagel.

  She laughs again and changes the subject. “Actually, now that you mention it, I do have a lunch meeting today. It’s at the Woodfire Grill two blocks south of the office. About ten of us will be there. We have a reservation.” She bites her lip and, for a moment, looks hesitant. “Do you think it’s safe?”

  I nod. “Absolutely. What time is your lunch? I’ll go there at the same time, just in case. I’ll sit at the bar and keep an eye on you. You won’t have to mention me to a single person. Just pretend you’ve never seen me before.”

  She stares at me. “You’d do that?”

  I grin. “What part has you flummoxed?”

  She licks those full lips now, distracting me. “All of it. Do you have time in the middle of the day to waste watching me eat with my coworkers?”

  I frown. “It’s my job, Eve. I go where you go. Even if I need to remain in the background. Keep your phone in your pocket in case I need to message you. Otherwise, ignore me. Enjoy your lunch.”

  She hesitates. “Okay. You’re sure? I could make an excuse and stay back in the office.”

  I shake my head. “No. Eve. I don’t want your life disrupted. Not any more than it already is, I mean.”

  I can say with absolute certainty that nothing could have prepared me for seeing Eve in action in her work environment. She may be small in stature, but she’s a force to be reckoned with when she puts on her power suits and those damn heels.

  I follow her from her office to the restaurant and enter after her party of ten. As I take a seat at the bar, she glances at me briefly and smiles. Her face flushes, making my cock hard. Dammit.

  For several minutes, she stands around with her coworkers, all of them talking in small groups while they wait for their table to be ready. I know immediately that she’s well-respected and well-liked. Everyone finds a way to get in front of her and secure a moment of her time.

  She sits near the head of the table next to her boss, and I’m struck by how different she looks dining with her coworkers as opposed to last night at Davis’s. She sits tall, spine extended, legs crossed at the ankles as if she’s been trained by royalty. Confidence wafts off of her. She sips her iced tea and daintily eats her salad. All the while, she keeps up with no fewer than four conversations.

  I can’t hear much from my distance, but I catch a word here and there, enough to inform me that they’re discussing numbers and tax laws. These people carry on animated conversations about loopholes as if they could orgasm on the details.

  It’s interesting, and I have to force myself to keep a straight face while I eat. I’d look like a doofus if I sat here grinning.

  I can’t stare at her because that would look suspicious too, but I rationalize even if the bartender catches me looking, he’ll just think I’ve got my eyes on a hot woman. He’d be right. But I’m here to watch other people, not Eve.

  I glance around at everyone in the restaurant discreetly every few moments. I look outside the wall-to-wall windows too. After a while, I realize I’m going to need to draw out my meal because the luncheon isn’t going to end quickly.

  I’m nursing a cup of coffee and pretending to scroll through my emails when I spot my suspect outside, the man who has been following her. My chest tightens. I calmly pay my bill and leave a nice tip while sending a text to Eve.

  Do not panic. Do not change anything you’re d
oing. The man I’ve seen watching you is outside. I’m going to follow him. Please, stay with your group at all times. Go straight back to your office. Do not leave again until you’ve heard from me.

  I keep one eye on the stalker and one eye on Eve as I remain seated. I see her flinch when her phone buzzes in her pocket, and I watch her closely as she reads the text in her lap.

  She stiffens, and I doubt she’s breathing, but she manages to pull herself together, put the phone back in her pocket, and glance my way. Her fucking amazing brown eyes are freaking out. The rest of her remains outwardly calm.

  I lift a brow.

  She bites into her bottom lip and returns to the conversation on her left, but her hands are shaking and she tucks them in her lap.

  I rise and exit through a side door, hating that I’ve left her unprotected. She’ll be fine. No one’s going to snag her from a group of people in broad daylight. That’s not how these people operate.

  Her stalker is leaning against the building across the street, casual as can be, his phone in his hand while he pretends to peruse it. This is my first time getting a solid beat on him. He’s just over six feet, about my height. Built like a linebacker. Khaki slacks. White shirt. Leather jacket. Brown ball cap.

  I’ve seen the leather jacket and brown ball cap several times. It’s definitely the same guy. Now, I just need to get a look at his face. I snap several pictures while I pull out a pack of cigarettes and light up. I hate this part of the job. I hate smoking. It’s disgusting. But it comes in handy when I need to stand around and keep tabs on someone, especially since no building allows smoking inside anymore.

  I pace casually while I inhale from the cigarette as infrequently as possible and keep an eye on both my suspect and Eve. Finally, her party finishes. They gather their coats and exit through the main door. I ignore them and keep my eye on my suspect.

  As soon as they begin to stroll back toward the office, he moves with them across the street. I move also, keeping a distance behind them. Luckily, the guy does not enter her office building. If he had, I’d have freaked the fuck out. Instead, he stops again as she enters. He sends a text, then lifts his gaze to her building as if he could see her wherever she is inside.

  That’s the moment I get a good picture of him. Not great, but at least what I can see of his face.

  He puts his phone away and starts walking. I keep up with him, following on the other side of the street still. Three streets away, he gets in a car parallel-parked. At least I get several pictures of his vehicle. If I’m lucky, the plates will trace to him and the entire mess will be that much closer to over.

  I’m five blocks from my own car now, so there’s not a damn thing I can do to follow him. Fuck. As he drives away, I head toward my SUV, fuming. Who the fuck is this asshole, and what does he intend to do with Eve?

  Chapter 11

  Colton

  * * *

  I pick Eve up at six. She waits inside until I pull up and then rushes out to get in my SUV.

  It’s cold out, and she rubs her hands together as I pull away from the curb. I’d rather take her pulse first, but I know she doesn’t want anyone from her office to see her coming and going with me. Not yet. How is she going to explain me without sending the entire office into a panic?

  “What happened?” she asks the moment we start moving.

  “Nothing. I got some better pictures of him, but I’m not sure it will be sufficient for facial recognition. Followed him to his car though and got the plates, for all the good that did. They were stolen. Shocker. There was no way for me to follow him. I was parked too far away.” I grip the steering wheel, still pissed.

  “Well, fuck.” She’s fidgeting, rubbing her hands on her skirt, but when I squeeze and release my tight grip on the steering wheel, she finally reaches across and sets her hand over mine. “Sorry. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. It’s not your fault.”

  I turn toward her, grateful I’m at a light. I thread my fingers with hers and hold them in my lap. “I’m sorry too. I’m just frustrated. I get this way when I can’t solve a crime fast enough for my liking.”

  My anxiety has caused her to relax to balance things. She grins at me. “Maybe you should slow down the investigation. I kind of like having you around,” she teases.

  I lift her hand to my cheek, though I should not. “Maybe you shouldn’t use words like fuck. I might go all Daddy on you and wash your mouth out with soap.”

  She sucks in a breath and doesn’t move.

  “Shit. Sorry. That was uncalled for. It slipped out before I could filter myself.” I release her hand, kicking myself mentally.

  When I glance at her, she’s staring at me, part of her bottom lip between her teeth. She’s breathing heavily, and she slowly turns to face the front.

  The light turns green. I keep driving. What the fuck is wrong with me? I couldn’t have said anything more inappropriate if I had tried.

  When we arrive at her apartment, we still haven’t spoken another word. I help her down from the SUV and follow her inside and up to her floor. I take her keys from her hand and open the door. This has become a thing with us. I also lock the door in both places.

  I turn around to find her hurrying across the room, heading for the hallway. I know she probably wants to change, but I feel like a fucking asshole. “Eve.”

  She doesn’t stop or glance back.

  I hurry to follow her. She’s in her doorway when I speak again. “Eve, I’m sorry.”

  She shuts the door, and I hear the lock turn.

  “Fuck.” I pace the hallway, needing to talk to her. Needing to make this right. Five minutes go by, then ten. Not a single sound is coming from her bedroom. Finally, I lean against the door and knock. “Can we please talk?”

  Nothing.

  “Eve. Please.” I’ll happily beg for as long as it takes. I hate that I’ve crossed a line with her and possibly hurt her feelings or triggered her in some way. Or worse. I wouldn’t want her to think I was making fun of her fetish. “I shouldn’t have said what I did. It was insensitive. I didn’t mean to make light of your kink. It was rude and uncalled for. Please forgive me.”

  She yanks the door open so fast I nearly fall into the room. Thank God I have a hold of the frame.

  She’s no longer dressed for the office. She’s not dressed at all actually. She’s in that soft pink robe. She turns around and starts pacing. “It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”

  “It’s not fine. I’ve obviously hurt your feelings.”

  “You didn’t hurt my feelings, Colt. Stop it. You have it all mixed up, and how could I expect you to understand? You were thrown into this lifestyle two days ago. You hardly know what the fuck to think about much of anything.” She stops pacing and draws in a deep breath.

  I consider interjecting but it doesn’t seem wise. I hold my spot, my grip still on the doorframe.

  Her words rush out. “The truth is that I’m stressed. I’m stressed because you’re in my private space where I come to unwind and be who I want to be at the end of a long day. And I can’t do that with you here.”

  I swallow. I suspected this was a problem. “I’m so sorry. I don’t want to infringe on your space.”

  She rubs her brow. “You can’t help it. And I don’t blame you. But I’m used to a certain routine that I’m not getting. So, forgive me for freaking out.”

  “There’s nothing to forgive. What can I do to make this better? Would you like me to go into the guest room and shut the door so you can have your space? I can do that.”

  She shakes her head. “Of course not. That’s not fair to you.”

  I search her face, trying to come up with something. Anything. “You’re used to being in your little space at home.”

  She nods, her teeth clamping down on her lip now. A tear slides down her face.

  Fuck.

  I release the doorframe, watching her closely as I slowly approach. I want to touch her, but I won’t if she doesn’t want me to.r />
  She drops her gaze to the floor, her head dipping. I pull her into my arms, grateful when she lets me and slumps against me. Her small hands go around my waist and she holds on tight.

  I thread my hands in her hair and cup the back of her head. “I’m so sorry,” I repeat.

  After a few moments, she tips her head back and looks up at me.

  I stare into her eyes, searching for answers. I don’t get them, but when she licks her lips, my gaze slides to her mouth. We’re so close that I can smell the breath mint she must have eaten after lunch.

  She shudders in my arms, and that’s the last straw. I can’t stop myself from lowering my lips to hers. I kiss her gently at first, then deeper, angling my head to one side while I direct hers at the same time.

  When she moans into my mouth, I growl back, stroking her tongue with mine, then sucking it just enough to make her tremble. I walk her backward until she hits the wall, and then I press against her as I continue to devour her.

  She’s heaven, and I’m the devil.

  When I finally break the kiss and look into her eyes, she’s panting. “Oh, God.”

  “Yeah…”

  She looks away.

  I grip her chin and force her to look at me. “I need to know something.”

  She swallows.

  “Who was I just kissing? Which Eve?”

  She stares at me, her chest rising and falling. Finally, she responds quietly, “I don’t know.” She starts trembling again.

  I set my forehead against hers and stroke the sides of her face with my thumbs. “It’s okay, Eve.”

  “It’s not really.”

  I draw back a few inches to give her room to breathe. “Here’s what we’re going to do. I want you to spend the next two hours in your little space. Dress how you would if I weren’t here. Do all the things that help you relax at the end of the day. Let me make you dinner. Let me pamper you for two hours.”